The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-25
THE TRAFFIC REFORM LAW.
Views of Business Men as to How II
Will Affect Indianapolis Interests.
-.
Various Theories Of Persons Who Look at
the New Measure from the Different
StandPoints of Commerce.

yesterday afternoon journal reporter maue
inquiry of number of business men concerning
the interstate commerce bill, with a view to
learn how the bill, in its operations. would af
feet Indianapolis interests. Quite diversity of
opinion was found, and, still more remarkable, a
large number of business who had no opin-
ion at all, some not even having any knowledge
of the provisions OF the bill.
H. B. Hammond, president of the Indianapo
lis, Decatur & Springfield railway. said: Il
think it will lie of great service to the public and
to the railroads, provided the commissioners ap-
pointed under the provisions of the bill are men
of integrity aud knowledge OF railroad affairs. |
think the clause concerning commissioners is the
weak clause of the whole bill. I 10 not think
the salaries are large enough to command the
proper experience. The bill upon which this is
patterned works well in England OF course,
like any new measure it will take us some time
to adjust ourselves to it, but there are barnacles
that have attached themselves to the railroad
business that ought to be scraped off. though it
may hurt some to have it done The sooner,
however, that it is done the better, it must be
done sometime"
| John G. Blake secretary Board of Trade said:
! There is much diversity of opinion regarding
| it. It is recognized. however, that interior
points like Indianapolis. Peoria ana Cincinnati
will be damaged somewhat Away from lake
| communication we are dependent upon railroads
| traversing two States. Shipping interests took
/ a boom from the moment this bill was talked
about The prospects of lake business have in
| creased much that two hundred vessels
| are now being built upon the lakes in anticipa-
| ton of the coming season."
/ cit is evident" said Mr.. W. c. Griffith, the
| grain dealer, that majority of the people who
| have given this matter study are convinced that
| modification in our laws of commerce " as nee
/ n better
the present certainly little harm come of
| giving the law fair test. The American Scion
will be found able to change this law if 1t is not
| sufficient to furnish relief"
| Said j. A. Closer, grain: II don't think any
body knows what the effect will be. and for that
reason do not like the bill. AT least. nobody
but Congressman and railroad men know any.
thing about it. Shippers don't know"
ii. G. Diehl, general freight agent of the l.. B.
& W., said: II don't know much about it as
when first read the bill. The ultimate effect is
| very hard to judge, whether it will be of benefit
or injury. The immediate effect will be- of
course to disturb commercial relations and all
present methods and customs of handling the
freight traffic. In course of time, no doubt, the
roads will adopt some plan by which they can
handle business in something near the old
methods think it will work injury to certain
localities. Indianapolis will be injured It has
had the benefit Of extremely low rates. not only
to the seaboard but to the lakes. For the past
four or five years Indianapolis has done, during
the summer months, a traffic in wheat, which
came in here locally and has been taken
out at extremely low rates to Toledo.
Detroit and Sandusky. Those rates will un-
doubtedlv be advanced, for the reason that the
rates at intermediate points between Indianapo
~lis and Lake Erie points are much higher than
the Indianapolis rate has been, and they will be
| the standard-the basis of rates for the future
instead of intermediate points being brought
| down to the Indianapolis standard. That would
of necessity, prevent Indianapolis from central
| izing that class of freight"
| Arfh
thinks the railroads will reap the benefits of any
provisions in the bill that incline to their inter
est ut remains for the business and shipping
community to find" he said. where their inter
ests lie. l believe Indianapolis will not be in
jured particularly in comparison with any Other
city, except Chicago, which will have a greater
| advantage than before We will not have
the protection regards through rates that we
| have had heretofore"
Sinker. Davis & Co.. foundrymen, think it il
going to be of benefit to them, but have no.
studied the bill.
Chandler s. TAYLOR foundrymen express ths
pnion that ''the railroad companies can. o.
course. run long distance for less proportion
r ately than small distance, because they have
the handling at both ends. If they had Ger
tain price for handling and then much
mile it would be more equitable. There il
nothing allowed where we do loading
a Some things will be rectifed, however. Herr
is an sample: A rate from here to St, Louis By
way of Decatur, ILL.,, was $16 yet to ship that t
Putnam county. Illinois, not nearly SO far as st
9 Louis, in fact less than one hundred miles from
Decatur cost $40"
L. Lavman, wholesale hardware dealer
said: II believe it is good thing We hav
i frequent illustrations of the injurious dscrim
: nations worked by the present system. l hav
case in roint now. The other day manu-
facturer ut Xenia. o., bought 500 tons of hem
9 in New York to ship to Xenia. By getting
i | through bill to ST. Louis he got a rate cent
lower than to Xenia, which is 400 miles neare
| New York. After he made his contract he wa
to get an order to have the freight, which wa
billed for ST. Louis, put off at Xenia. Railroad
u will ship goods twenty five fifty miles hey
a this city for the same rate they will ship here
r billing the freight at regular rates and then giy
, inc the merchant his drawback"
s GEORGE MCOUAT has succeeded A. W NJ,